This post will only address the council meeting but I will follow up with a second post with information on the Unified Development Ordinance and other issues.
(The video of the Regular Council Meeting and the Work Session can be found on YouTube. Click on the bold links to view the meetings.)
Voted YES: Ordinance 2025-07. 2nd reading. This was a rezoning of the property at 715 N A Street. This was Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and was wanting to rezone to R7.5. Since this property is surrounded by homes, I could not see any reason to vote No. There were concerns by the Planning Commission about the added driveways on that road and the service trucks (trash, brush, mail etc.) would increase the holdup of traffic. The city said they would require shared driveways to help reduce this.
Voted YES: Ordinance 2025-08. 2nd reading. This adoption of the Business License Ordinance is in accordance with the Business License Standardization Act; therefore, it is necessary to pass.
Voted YES: Ordinance 2025-09. 2nd reading. This was to formalize the conveyance of an easement across the Doodle Trail. The easement was already given but never finalized via ordinance.
(Ordinance 2025-10 2nd reading should have been on the agenda but was not. This was the maintenance agreement of the right a way
Voted NO: Ordinance 2025-11. 1st reading. This was to repeal the current Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance and replace with the Unified Development Ordinance. I made a motion to table this so the council could discuss but was denied. Justin Alexander made a motion to reduce density by 10% and it was denied. He also presented another motion to remove the fresh produce from convenience stores and was also denied. This document was presented as the final draft and was not. The council met and discussed half of the questions submitted and the mayor did not allow another meeting. We received ‘answers’ to the remaining questions with approximately 17 noted as ‘Council Question’. And in the work session, found out additional changes were being made. I felt this version of the document did not comply with the purpose of this rewrite; to manage growth.
Voted YES: Ordinance 2025-12 1st reading. Amend the operating budget to authorize the purchase of IT equipment for the police department. This purchase is $300,000 with yearly recurring charges of $122,349.84. I ask if the budget could be cut to accommodate this and was told they looked at the IT budget and decided there could be no cuts. I ask if they looked at the entire budget and were told no. I was not comfortable with this but voted yes. Leaning towards voting no next month. (I will be out voted but at least I will vote with the taxpayer in mind.)
Voted YES: Resolution 2025-14 VGA lease services. This is a yearly resolution for a lease between the city and VGM Financial Services.
Voted YES: Resolution 2025-15 VGA lease services. This is a yearly resolution for a lease between the city and VGM Financial Services.
Voted YES: Resolution 2025-16 Remedy for the congestion along Brushy Creek Rd. This was a” request” for DOT. I ask the purpose of this as we did the same for Hwy 8 last year and have not heard any updates on that resolution. We were told that Senator Rice and Rep Neal Collins were consulted and a city employee talks to DOT every quarter. I requested he keep the council informed of these meetings.